I'm looking to buy a microphone to record myself playing my musical instruments. I want to record YouTube videos at home on my laptop. Having done one recording and posted it here in USMB, I don't feel like it did the instrument (an all solid wood $600 mandolin) justice.

My laptop's microphone is OK for just talking, but recording music demands more. The recording I have here in USMB sounds a bit tinny, kind of like what you might expect from a cheap, laminated (plywood) mandolin, selling for about $100. The recording doesn't match up to the real sound of the instrument, which is very woody, deep, powerful, robust, especially on the double stop tremolos.

So, what I want to do is get a microphone capable of plugging into my laptop's USB port. I know that a condenser mic is the kind for home/studio recording, but I don't know much about them, and I'm looking to spend less than $100.

Your best bet is to buy a decent condenser Mic and an usb interface.
It'll cost more than $100.
A couple hundred for the Mic and around $100 for the interface.

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What would the interface do for me ?

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It gives you the ability to record directly to your computer. You can get a free program called Audacity. After you record your performance you can add compression, effects, eq, to your recording. It works great.

As Billyboom mentioned, you will need a good mic and mic cable, and an interface and software. I have a Shure KSM27 condenser for vocals and acoustic sounds, a pair of Sennsheiser e906's for guitar amps, and want to get a Royer R-10 Ribbon mic at some point. I would take your time figuring out what best fits your needs. I think Cakewalk has free recording software. BUT, a good mastering plugin makes a huge difference in the outcome. I use iZotope Ozone.

I would strongly recommend a mini recorder type thing like this until you get thoroughly familiar with what exactly you need to create a functional DAW (digital audio workstation).

It gives you the ability to record directly to your computer. You can get a free program called Audacity. After you record your performance you can add compression, effects, eq, to your recording. It works great.

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Very cool. I'll have to look into it. I had an interface (Audiobox) for 2 years. It just collected dust. I couldn't figure out how to work it.

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